My Anti-Romance Stance

I couldn't find a way to link to it but on Goodreads I read a review Jane Litte (from Dear Author) did about a book where the hero threw out casual misogynist statements and the heroine would become quiet when he did but still lust after him.

Do normal women lust after men who don't really like women?

It reminded me of my first Harlequin experiences. I had somehow signed up for a monthly Harlequin book club, oh, many years ago. I received (if I remember correctly) three HQ books a month. At the time they were all similar in that the heroines were all British, all young, all working for older somewhat brutish men who treated them badly and then at the end of the book professed their love. The heroines were all spineless and confused and I hated them. The heroes were assholes and I hated them.

I didn't remain in the book club for long because I obviously had a hate-on for most of what I read. But it created a rich and textured fantasy of a book I wanted to read:

The hero is a Harlequin brute. He accuses the heroine of heinous deeds and being too sexually sexual. Yet he punishes her with punishing kisses and odd groping. She really doesn't like it and so she begins to avoid him. She changes her phone number so he can't call. She moves to another state. She becomes successful in her career and has a good life.

Then something happens and the brute finds her and needs her to save the ailing business (something their fathers started together or you know....). His solution is that they'll get married and he'll take over the business and she'll be his wifely doormouse. She tells him to go to hell. He acts like a Harlequin brute.

She ends up stealing the business away from him by being a better businesswoman and doing things right. Then she marries his kind younger brother. And the next time he tries to punish her with a kiss she knees him in the groin.

God, I feel better having written that.